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Identities, conditions of DUI suspect's accident victims disclosed

Family issues statement including name of unborn baby

John Fryar Longmont Times-Call

Posted:
07/07/2012 12:19:11 PM MDT

Updated:
07/07/2012 07:12:16 PM MDT

LONGMONT -- Heather Surovik, the 27-year-old pregnant Longmont woman who lost her near-term fetus when her Pontiac sedan was struck by a suspected drunk driver on Thursday afternoon, was still in Longmont United Hospital on Saturday, according to Longmont police Cmdr. Jeff Satur.

Meanwhile, Boulder County Coroner Emma Hall said in a Saturday afternoon press release that her office "investigating the death of a baby, Brady Surovik, following a motor vehicle collision at 17th Avenue and Pace Street" on Thursday.

Hall said an autopsy had been completed, but that "the cause and manner of death are pending further investigation."

Surovik's family, in a statement it sent to Denver's 9News TV, said that "Brady Paul, the 8 pound, 12 ounce child did not survive the accident.

"Calling him a 'fetus' is offensive to our family. He was ready to be born within days and did not get that opportunity because someone that should not have been allowed to drive was behind the wheel of a vehicle," the family said in its statement.

Satur disclosed Surovik's name, and that of Terry Koester, Surovik's mother -- who was the adult passenger riding with Surovik at the time of the Thursday accident -- on Saturday morning.

Satur said Scott Koester, Surovik's father, has reported that his daughter "is making good strides toward recovery, which will be a long road, but she is alert and talking."

Terry Koester, also of Longmont, was in the passenger seat and also was injured in the accident at 17th Avenue and Pace Street, while Surovik's 5-year-old son suffered minor injuries, police have said.

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As of Saturday, Terry Koester was out of the hospital, "is doing better and recovering well," Satur said. "Heather's son is doing very well and playing like a 5-year-old."

Surovik's family provided more detail in their own Saturday statement, saying that "Brady's mother was seriously injured in the accident and is still in ICU fighting her way back to us thanks to a lot of help from great nurses and doctors at LUH. His grandmother was also injured in the accident and will be having surgery to repair a broken arm and wrist the first of next week, and is recovering from her injuries. Brady's 5-year-old brother was also injured, with a bump to the head."

Satur said the family has asked that their privacy be respected.

Gary Sheats -- the 52-year-old Longmont man who was driving the Dodge Durango when it and collided with Surovik's car -- is being held in Boulder County Jail. Authorities said Sheats had a blood alcohol content that measured at .292 after the wreck that left Surovik in critical condition, her near-term fetus dead, and her mother and son injured.

Satur said Saturday evening that the police department's traffic investigators and accident reconstruction team have determined that Sheats was westbound on 17th and made a left turn onto Pace, turning in front of Surovik's eastbound vehicle.

Police have said the impact of the collision between Sheats' and Surovik's vehicles spun Surovik's sedan into a black Honda Pilot that also was traveling west on 17th, but that there were no injuries to the occupants of that third vehicle. Satur identified the Honda's driver as Martha Rudd, 68, of Longmont.

Sheats, who initially fled the scene of Thursday's accident, was later arrested in the driveway of his home in the 1200 block of Winslow Circle.

Surovik's family said in their statement that they appreciate "all of the outpouring of support, and because of those expressing desire to help in some way, a fund has been set up as 'Brady Fund' care of Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman St., Longmont, CO 80501 to help the mother through the recovery process."

The family also expressed outrage "that this happened." They said they don't understand how Sheats, a five-time previous DUI offender, "would be allowed behind the wheel of an automobile and given the opportunity to hurt a family so deeply."

Prosecutors are scheduled to file formal charges against Sheats on Tuesday. On Friday, prosecutor Ryan Brackley said his office was waiting for Longmont police and the Boulder County Coroner's Office to complete their investigations before making a formal decision about the filing.

Brackley declined specific comment on Friday about whether the district attorney's office is considering adding a vehicular homicide charge to account for the death of the fetus, which Hall called "a baby" in her Saturday news release. Brackley said the homicide charge could be applied only if the fetus were born and then died of injuries suffered in the wreck. He said if the fetus died before birth, then the only charge his office could apply would be vehicular assault on the mother.

Satur said, "We are still seeking witnesses who may have seen this accident or spoke with or saw Gary Sheats before the accident." He asked that people call Officer Mike Stogsdill at 303-651-8501 if they have any information.

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